On July 27, 2020, President Trump announced his intent to nominate Mark Christie (Republican) and Allison Clements (Democrat) to fill the vacant Commissioner seats at FERC. Mr. Christie would replace the departing Commissioner Bernard McNamee—whose term expired on June 30, 2020 but who stayed at FERC past the expiration of his term to maintain a quorum (see January 28, 2020 edition of the WER)—while Ms. Clements would fill the remaining vacant seat. If both nominees are sworn in, the Commission would consist of three Republicans (Chairman Neil Chatterjee, Commissioner James Danly, and Mr. Christie) and two Democrats (Commission Richard Glick and Ms. Clements).
Mr. Christie is currently the Chairman of the Virginia State Corporation Committee. Previously, he was elected president of the Organization of PJM States Inc., comprised of states in the PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. regional transmission organization. Mr. Christie was also elected president of the Mid-Atlantic Conference of State Utility Regulators. In addition, Mr. Christie has taught regulatory law at the University of Virginia School of Law and constitutional law and public policy in a doctoral program at Virginia Commonwealth University. Mr. Christie also served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps.
Ms. Clements is the founder and president of Goodgrid, LLC, an energy policy and strategy consulting firm based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Prior to that position, Ms. Clements spent two years as director of the energy markets program at Energy Foundation. Ms. Clements has also worked at the Natural Resources Defense Council as the organization’s corporate counsel and then as director of the Sustainable FERC Project. Prior to that, Ms. Clements spent several years in private legal practice.
A copy of the announcement is available here.